Yep, I’ve been playing around with dying my own yarn. I got four hanks of bare yarn for my birthday and am loving making my own colors for sock yarn. So far I’ve dyed three of the hanks and I’m contemplating what to do with the fourth. I used an article from Knitty as a guide, found here. It is so stickin’ easy. And I’m in love with the colors that came out.

First I used Grape. I under estimated the number of packets I would need and it came out much lighter than I expected.

This has already been knit up into a pair of Jaywalkers. With lots of yarn leftover. I may need a pair of matching hand warmers. Or even a beanie. (Knit Picks Bare yarn does not skimp on yardage!)

Next I did Strawberry

I absolutely love this color. This has Christmas socks written all over it. In fact, I’ve started a pair of Broadripples and they are turning out great!

And the third color I did was Lemon Lime. Love this color too!

This is another yarn that will soon become a Christmas present. It’s the perfect green for one of my step-daughters.

And did you get that? I’ve already started on my holiday knitting. This year I’m breaking out of my selfish knitting and making gifts for other people. Only those who will truly appreciate it, but it makes me feel good to be gifting some that I put so much of my time and love into. Some extra days off here and there are really helping me get a jump start on all the knitting too.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Yep, I’ve knit myself another pair of socks. I really am running out of room in my sock drawer. At least my feet will be nice and warm this winter

My latest creation:

I picked up some Regia Silk sock yarn on sale at my LYS (so much for using up what I already have on hand) and started these right away. I love this yarn. So soft and easy to knit. I did Kim’s mini-cable pattern and I love the way the pattern really stands out in this yarn.

I have so much sock yarn it’s not even funny. I think I’ll break out of my seflishness and knit some socks for Christmas presents this year. Or find other uses for sock yarn. We’ll see.

I will admit it – I’m scared of knitting a sweater or top. I think it stems from the first time I attempted a sweater and it came out horribly wrong. Could have been the pattern wasn’t written well or it could have been  I was a very, very new knitter and had no idea what I was doing.

So I thought attempting a baby or chid’s size top might help me get over this hump in my knitting. Here is what I ended up with:

The pattern is from the 2007 Pattern A Day calendar and it’s called Child’s Party Tank Top. I substituted Sidar Spree yarn. I didn’t add any of the crochet to the trip because I don’t know how to crochet. And I did my own version of a picot bottom, which I loved the way it turned out.

I made this for one of my niece’s and can’t wait to see all that pink  on her.

A couple months ago I joined the Winos Ravelry group and last month I signed up for the Australian Wine swap. The rules of the swap require a bottle of wine, some yarn, and a pattern. Anything else is a bonus. My swap partner did a great job:

 My box came on Thursday and was filled with all kinds of goodies. Especially the wine. It’s a 2006 Greg Norman Cabernet Merlot and delicious! Yep, it’s already been opened and partially consumed. It went wonderfully with the stuff zucchini from my yard last night

Also in the package were two hanks of Happy Feet sock yarn in beautiful shades of blue and purple. Because I just can’t have enough sock yarn! And this stuff is soft

Along with the yarn was a very cute wine bag and some very pretty stitch markers. Yay for stitch markers since I have tons, but always seem to loose them. (Maybe if I lifted up the cushions of the couch once in a while I’d find some). And last, but not least, a pattern for socks – Pillars of Atlantis by Chrissy Graham. This looks like a fun pattern.

Thanks WenzerLuvsSmoke! I love everything in my package

So I’m a little late with this pics, but here are the first two products of my little container garden

What, I didn’t post that I’d also added zucchini to my collection? Yah, it’s a busy time of year for me. I kind of cheated and bought a plant that already had a ripe zucchini on it, but the plant has done wonders since I’ve planted it.

Day one of zucchini plant:

And after two weeks:

The thing just exploded! Next to it is a crooked neck squash plant that has a couple squash doubling in size every day.

The zucchini I picked was quickly grilled and consumed. And enjoyed. The tomato was good, but small. And the poor tomato plant is not doing so well. I did get two tomatoes off of it so I’m happy. Still keeping my fingers crossed for more.

In other topsy turvy news, my bell pepper plant is really flourishing! Tonight I picked my first bell pepper (and second zucchini)

I think we’ll be having stir fry this weekend. Or maybe more grilled veggies. Either way, I think next year I’m planting a lot more fruits and vegetables!

Can you tell I’m obsessed with socks lately? This pair was finished in a little over two weeks. They are my Pink Parfait socks.

Isn’t the swirly-strip coloring fun?! Doesn’t it look just like a blueberry parfait?! Mmmm…parfait

The pattern is one from Kim. She calls the pattern her Fair Socks. It’s a ribbed, mini-cable or twist and kept the sock interesting. The yarn was a Christmas present from Kim also It’s Socks That Rock Lightweight in Pink Granite.

Despite the 100+ weather outside, my feet are almost always chilled so I’ve even started wearing them around the house. Yes, I look like a dork in wool socks in the middle of summer, but I’m o.k. with that. And so are my ice cube toes!

“Bay Area” is such a good summary of all the places I visited two weeks ago on a trip to see family in California. I spent time in Fremont, Santa Clara, San Francisco, the Pescadero beaches and one of the redwood forests. Within an hours drive there are so many places that can be visited from just about any point in the Bay Area.

The main purpose of this trip was my grandpa’s birthday. Most of the family met at an SF Giants game to take up a big section and make lots of noise to celebrate him.

Pac Bell (technically AT&T) Park. One of my favorite places in the world!

The view from our excellent seats!

The birthday boy

Luckily we had an extra ticket so my buddy M was able to meet us. We had a blast and his craziness fit right in with my family’s craziness

Mmm…baseball players

Next up, my attempts at photography with my 5 mega pixel camera. I think I got a few good shots.

Bean Hallow State Beach (and tide pools)

My uncle and cousin looking at the baby crabs

I love watching the waves and surf!

The cliffs and tide pools that we were hiking around.

I love this picture and the bandage with a crab on my cousin’s hand

Very cool looking plants that covered a lot of the cliffs.

Despite the wind and clouds it was a very relaxing time at the beach!

Jesse’s relaxing too

Next, we went for a short hike in a redwood forest on the way home. Amazing how just a few miles from the coast it’s sunny and warm!

Makes me feel so small…

Can’t wait for my next visit!

I think I’m slowly proving to my hubby that I can grow things other than herbs. Here’s some proof:

Remember what this started out as? It was this sad, pathetic little plant (that you can hardly see)

I said from the beginning I’d be happy with just one tomato out of this Topsy Turvy and now I have one so close to being picked and four others slowly moving along. That’s five little tomato babies I’ve yet to kill! Still keeping my fingers crossed though.

In other gardening happenings around here, I still have my bell pepper plant going in the other topsy turvy, which has a few flowers on it.

I’ve heard from a couple people around here that they’ve had a hard time with bell peppers so we’ll see. Just like the tomato plant, it’s no where near as big and luscious as what is shown on the box or the commercials, and both plants naturally want to grow upwards, not down. Hey, whatever works.

I’m also working on some herbs that I’m started from seeds. Some chives and some dill. So far the dill is exploding and the chives are just doing o.k. I have some more seeds left so I may add more chives to the planter.

Before, about three weeks ago:

Dill is on the right and chives are on the left. This was just about a week after I planted them. And as of last night:

I have a couple pieces of salmon in the freezer that are just waiting for the dill to be ready.

And one last picture of Ginger helping me water. She’s so easily distracted by birds, butterflies or anything that flies by her while outside. She’s my little blur (or spaz) of a dog.

I finished the SF Giants bag in perfect time to felt, dry and take with me on my trip this week to the Bay Area. Of course I didn’t take pictures of it felted, so just imagine it half the size and a little fuzzier

I tried a different color pattern this time, with diagonal strips rather than diamonds up each side and I had a very hard time with the bottom. It wasn’t until I was halfway done that I realized I’d messed up the color combo. Oh well. It looks like a big “C” and that can stand for my last name I guess. Here is the other side:

There was no way in hell I was ripping all these mitered square out to fix it. As it is, I spent every spare second I had working to get this finished in time. I have to say, it will probably be a while before I make another one. Yep, a little burnt out on this pattern.

Next up, a pair of socks I was working on before starting the Giants bag. Finished this morning:

These are the Spring Forward pattern from Knitty in Lisa Souza Sage. I have to say I loved both the pattern and the yarn.

And the color! I love the color. Such beautiful shades of green. Just one more picture

This one shows of the pattern a little more. Definitely yarn I’ll be buying more of and a pattern I’ll be doing over and over again!

Just wanted to post a picture of how my tomato topsy turvy is doing.  Above is the biggest tomato next to the newest tomato. I have four total on the plant. I’m loving the heck out of this plant! And since I’ve been semi-successful so far my hubby got me another topsy turvy and a bell pepper plant

The other day it did start turning upwards. And so far there is only one lone flower on it, but I’ll be patient. And I’ll water it daily and love it just like I love my tomato plant. Again, I’ll be completely excited to get just one bell pepper out of this thing